US 8,896,956 B1 · Method and system for reading closely-spaced data tracks

Abstract

A method for reading a track of data may include positioning a read head at an initial position relative to the track of data and obtaining initial track signals, filtering the initial track signals, positioning the read head at an initial subsequent position relative to the track of data and obtaining initial subsequent track signals, and filtering the initial subsequent track signals. In an initial equalization, the filtered initial track signals and the filtered initial subsequent track signals are equalized to obtain equalized track signals. The read head is positioned at a further subsequent position relative to the track of data and further subsequent track signals are obtained The further subsequent track signals are filtered. In a subsequent equalization, previously obtained equalized track signals and the filtered further subsequent track signals are equalized. A storage device operating according to the method may have an equalizer in hardware or firmware.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A method for reading a track of data, the method comprising:

positioning a read head at an initial position relative to the track of data and obtaining initial track signals;
filtering the initial track signals;
positioning the read head at an initial subsequent position relative to the track of data and obtaining initial subsequent track signals;
filtering the initial subsequent track signals;
in an initial equalization, equalizing the filtered initial track signals and the filtered initial subsequent track signals to obtain equalized track signals;
positioning the read head at a further subsequent position relative to the track of data and obtaining further subsequent track signals;
and
filtering the further subsequent track signals;
in a subsequent equalization, equalizing previously obtained equalized track signals and the filtered further subsequent track signals.

6 more elements

A storage device comprising:

a storage medium having at least one track of data thereon;
and
reading apparatus for reading one of the at least one track of data, the reading apparatus comprising:
a read head that is positionable at a plurality of positions relative to each of the at least one track of data, for obtaining respective track signals at each of the plurality of positions;
an equalization module having equalizer inputs for two signals, and having an equalizer output;
memory having memory inputs and memory outputs connected to the equalizer inputs and equalizer output;
and
a controller that commands the read head to move among the plurality of positions and that moves data between the equalization module and the memory via the memory inputs and memory outputs, and the equalizer inputs and equalizer output;
wherein the controller:
positions the read head at an initial position relative to the track of data to obtain initial track signals;
stores the initial track signals in the memory;
positioning the read head at an initial subsequent position relative to the track of data to obtain initial subsequent track signals;
stores the initial subsequent track signals in the memory;
in an initial equalization, inputs the initial track signals and the initial subsequent track signals to the equalization module to obtain equalized track signals;
stores the equalized track signals in the memory;
positions the read head at a further subsequent position relative to the track of data to obtain further subsequent track signals;
stores the further subsequent track signals in the memory;
and
in a subsequent equalization, provides previously equalized track signals stored in the memory and the further subsequent track signals to the equalization module to obtain subsequent equalized track signals.

16 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system for reading closely-spaced data tracks

Life of this patent

Method and system for reading closely-spaced data tracks

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22